FORSYTHE ATLANTIC'S RICHARD PHILIPPE CLAIMS SECOND IN CLEVELAND
Championship Leader Andreas Wirth Loses Nose But Sets Fastest Lap and
Retains Points Lead
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- June 25, 2006 -- He may be just 16 years
old, but Forsythe...

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- June 25, 2006 -- He may be just 16 years
old, but Forsythe Championship Racing's young Atlantic prodigy
Richard Philippe showed great maturity today as he resisted race-long
pressure from more experienced competitors and finished second in the
final race of the Gehl Atlantic Championship of Cleveland doubleheader.
After showing speed all year but suffering from a crash at the season
opener in Long Beach and bad luck at several other events, the younger
brother of Champ Car driver Nelson Philippe jumps to 15th in the point
standings.

The "old man" of Forsythe's Atlantic foursome, 25
year-old Leonardo Maia, enjoyed his best finish of the year as he climbed
from his seventh-place starting spot to finish fifth on the day and move
to eighth in the standings. Andreas Wirth, the series points leader, had
just passed championship contender Simon Pagenaud when he went off track
and lost his front wing, costing the German rocket a lap as he was forced
to pit for a new nose. Despite the setback, Wirth climbed back through
the 24-car field to finish 18th while setting fastest race lap, over a
quarter-second quicker than any other car.

James Hinchcliffe, right behind Wirth in the point standings coming into
the Cleveland weekend, was also behind Wirth when he went off track. He
went off track with his teammate, also losing his front wing. After
pitting for a new nose he trailed Wirth across the finish line in 19th.

Richard Philippe

"Finally! It's been a really, really tough year so far and I
was getting pretty depressed. But my team never gave me a hard time and
kept supporting me, so I'm very happy to give them a podium
finish. The car was really easy to drive and while I didn't have
anything for Graham (race winner Graham Rahal) I was able to do
consistent quick laps. Our driver coach Lee Bentham was talking to me
all through the race keeping me calm and focused so I have to thank him
also. My family was here supporting me and we all had big smiles! So
now there's just one more step to focus on for Toronto."

Leonardo Maia

"We're getting there. The car was pretty good and consistent
and I got a decent start. I was in seventh at the end of the first lap
and just kept chipping away. Thanks again to the team for a great
weekend and I think we were all happy to see Richard get the podium he
deserved. I think we're still rebuilding our confidence after we
had a bad weekend as a team in Monterrey, but it's starting to look
like we're going to be a factor for the rest of the year. Now
everybody has a podium but me, so it's my turn in Toronto!"

Andreas Wirth

"I lost the air off my front wings behind the 22 car as I tried to
set him up for a pass on the front straight and pushed off at the last
chicane. So I had to pit for a new wing and that was it. I'm very
disappointed because I knew straight away the #37 INDECK/Layer 7/Wirth
Solar car was very, very fast today. At least I did the quickest race
lap and showed how hard my crew had worked to make the car perfect today,
but it's not the result we were looking for."

James Hinchcliffe

"I was right behind Andreas when he went off and just followed him
into the dirt. He lost the air off his front wings behind Ott and I lost
the air off my front wings behind him. We were both kind of amazed after
the race because we'd never experienced such a sudden loss of
downforce like that. But, it is what it is and we'll just have to
move on. Next we go to my hometown of Toronto and I think our motivation
will be very high there. The team is doing a great job and I don't
have any doubt the Emexis/INDECK car will be up front again."